The United States-Japan Science Film Exchange Project: An Interim Report.

Newren, Edward F.

The objective of this project, now in its final stages, was to determine the benefits to science education, at various academic levels, from the exchange of science films between the United States and Japan. In the three years of the project (1967-70), the United States sent 265 films and received 180 films. The films were evaluated by each of the participating countries prior to the exchange and then reevaluated by the receiving country. In the United States, the reevaluation process consisted of two phases. In phase one, the films were evaluated mainly by professionals at the higher education level--content specialists, audience level specialists, and production specialists. In phase two, the films were evaluated by science teachers and their students. While all the data from both phases has not been compiled, indications are that the photography and overall quality of the Japanese productions are good and that there is much understanding of Japanese culture and media techniques to be gained from the exchange. Though the content of these films is often not specifically geared to U.S. curricula, they are quite useful as supplementary materials or for in-depth individual study or enrichment, rather than traditional classroom instruction. Lists of the Japanese and American film titles are appended. (JY)